HBCU ORIGINAL
Antwain Banks’ Fourth Quarter Touchdown Sparks Bowie State, but Davenport Holds on for a 17-14 Win
Antwain Banks’ Fourth Quarter Touchdown Sparks Bowie State, but Davenport Holds on for a 17-14 Win
Bowie, MD – In a game dominated by defense, the Davenport Panthers narrowly escaped with a 17-14 victory over the HBCU Bowie State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. The win moves Davenport to 2-0 on the season and improves their record against the Bulldogs to 2 0.
The Panther’s first score on their second drive came off Brandon Gielow‘s foot when he successfully drilled a 42-yard field goal to give DU the first lead of the game, 3-0. From there, Davenport would control the momentum of the game when, in the second quarter, Mike O’Horo connected with Preston Smith on a fade route in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, making it 10-0.
Bowie State would respond 2 minutes before the half late in the second quarter. After a crucial stop by the Bowie Defense, Kevin Taylor‘s 11-yard drive would cap off an eight-yard touchdown pass to Awesome Waller, Jr., bringing the score to 10-7. However, Davenport struck back right before halftime when O’Horo found Antjuan Collins near the three-yard line, and after a quick juke, Collins took it into the end zone to give the Panthers a 17-7 lead at halftime.
The second half became a defensive showdown, with both teams struggling to capitalize on long drives. Bowie State finally broke through at the start of the fourth quarter when Taylor launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Antwain Banks, who debuted for the Bulldogs after transferring from Lincoln University. This score narrowed the deficit to 17-14 and gave Bowie State hope for a comeback.
Why Antwain Banks’ Impact and the Story Is Important.
As a Maryland high school standout at quarterback, Bank was a dynamic quarterback at Edgewood High School in Edgewood, Maryland. Despite his success as a state leader in high school, college programs didn’t know what to do with him, leaving him under-recruited and without offers until just before graduation, when Frostburg University extended an offer to play quarterback. Ironically, he only played quarterback in high school after the starting QB transferred in the middle of his junior year at Edgewood. As the most dynamic athlete on the field, initially playing slot receiver, he stepped into the quarterback role because there were no other viable options. He took on the challenge, hoping colleges would recognize how explosive and versatile he was with the ball in his hands.
Despite his remarkable stats as a dual-threat quarterback, rushing for over 4,000 yards and 46 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons, he led the state in rushing both years, ranking first in touchdowns his junior year and finishing second in touchdowns his senior year.
High School Honors:
- 1st in state for scoring & touchdowns (26) in 2018
- 2nd in state rushing (131 ATT | 1,686 YDS) in 2018
- 5th in state total yards (2,498) in 2018
- 1st in the 3A division for total yards in 2018
- 1st in 3A rushing (126 ATT | 1,544 YDS) in 2017
- 1st in 3A division touchdowns (20) in 2017
- 1st in 3A division total yards (2,629) in 2017
- All-Metro mention, All-Conference, and All-County
Collegiate Honors:
- Dean’s List with a 3.8 GPA in 2022
- All-Academic Team with a 3.38 GPA in the 2023 slot as a redshirt freshman receiver
After redshirting at Frostburg, he transitioned to slot receiver at HBCU Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Earning a starting position at Lincoln, he soon realized he could better showcase his talents in a more competitive program. This led him to transfer to Bowie State during his sophomore redshirt to pursue a starting role. Banks’ journey to Bowie State is one of perseverance as an under-recruited athlete out of high school. His performance on Saturday—two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown—showed the value of athletes who may have been overlooked but possess the talent to make an impact.
Banks’ story mirrors that of his cousin, Deonte Banks, who also faced limited recruiting opportunities before earning a late scholarship offer from the University of Maryland. Deonte would be a first-round draft pick for the New York Giants, proving that under-recruited athletes can defy expectations when given the chance. Athletes like Antwain Banks are often overlooked by major programs due to their lack of star ratings and limited visibility in their high school markets, often because they come from more rural areas. Factors like a lack of recruiting networks among coaches and outdated recruitment philosophies also contribute to their underexposure. With the rise of social media, some recruiting budgets are being cut as recruiters rely more on online data. Colleges now prefer athletes to come to them through unofficial visits, mega camps, junior days, and game day experiences rather than actively scouting them in person.
Antwain demonstrated talent and knows no ranking. These athletes find ways to contribute at all levels of college football, often walking on or transferring to programs where they can showcase their skills. The Under Recruited Athlete platform exists to highlight these stories, ensuring that athletes with similar paths to Banks have opportunities to be seen and scouted by college programs.
Bowie State showed resilience and heart despite the loss, especially from players like Antwain Banks, whose story embodies the spirit of underrecruited athletes across the country. As college programs look to strengthen their rosters, Banks’ performance is a reminder of the untapped potential in athletes who may not have received high recruiting attention but are fully capable of impacting the field.
🏅 HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought the best of the best to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon—and HBCU athletes rose to the occasion. Here’s how they placed in the finals:
🥉 Jordan Pierre (University of Arkansas‑Pine Bluff)
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Event: Men’s 400 m
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 45.75 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
💪 Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State University)
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Event: Men’s 400 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 9th Overall
🥉 Marcia Sey (Howard University)
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Event: Women’s 100 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 12.93 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America and highest NCAA finish in Howard’s track history
🏃♀️ Howard Women’s 4×100 m Relay
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Team Members: Kailei Collins, Marcia Sey, Tiffani‑Rae Pittman, Aiyana Gray‑Williams
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Final Placement: 6th Place – 43.23 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
📊 Quick Recap
| Athlete / Team | Event | Final Result | Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Pierre (UAPB) | 400 m | 🥉 3rd Place | First Team All-America |
| Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State) | 400 m Hurdles | 9th Place | – |
| Marcia Sey (Howard) | 100 m Hurdles | 🥉 3rd Place – 12.93s | First Team All-America |
| Howard 4×100 Relay | 4×100 m | 6th Place – 43.23s | First Team All-America |
📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations
Southeast:
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Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone
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Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks
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Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums
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Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling
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New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou
Northeast:
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Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase
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Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival
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New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market
Midwest:
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Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic
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Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks
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Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music
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St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade
South:
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Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park
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Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry
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Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos
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Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors
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Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event
West Coast & Beyond:
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Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits
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Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair
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San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore
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Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march
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Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food
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Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music
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Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word
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Columbus, OH – Citywide Juneteenth march
🎓 HBCUs at the Center
Many of these celebrations include HBCU marching bands, alumni chapters, student orgs, and vendor booths. From performances to education panels, HBCUs continue to be pillars in preserving the legacy of Juneteenth.
🔗 Join the Movement
📷 Tag @THEHBCUORIGINAL
🏷️ Hashtags: #HBCUJuneteenth #Juneteenth2025 #BlackFreedom
Juneteenth—short for June Nineteenth—is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free.
For the estimated 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas, this was the first time they were told of their freedom. While freedom had been the law since January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in remote Confederate states like Texas until Union troops physically arrived.
But Juneteenth is more than a date.
It’s a spiritual and cultural milestone. It represents:
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Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.
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A collective awakening to freedom.
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The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.
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The power of Black resilience, community, and culture.
Since its origin, Juneteenth has evolved from small family cookouts and church gatherings into nationwide celebrations filled with festivals, education, music, and activism. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to generations of Black voices demanding that America remember and respect this part of its history.
Juneteenth and Slavery in Texas
In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers from outside the Lone Star State had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.
After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.
Published by HBCU Original | June 13, 2025
Under Armour is giving HBCU pride a fashionable step forward with its latest sneaker drop and campaign celebrating Black sisterhood, Greek life, and the vibrant legacy of Maryland’s historically Black colleges.
For the launch of its newest lifestyle sneaker, the UA Echo, Under Armour partnered with Baltimore native and award-winning photographer Devin Allen to shoot the “Sisterhood in Style” campaign. The powerful visuals were brought to life on the campuses of Bowie State University and Morgan State University, spotlighting women from the first Black Greek-letter sorority in bold, expressive styles.
More than a simple product release, “Sisterhood in Style” tells a deeper story—one of culture, community, and representation. The campaign highlights tradition and individuality, showing how today’s HBCU students are redefining style on their own terms.
“More than a product spotlight, Sisterhood in Style reflects UA’s broader commitment to innovation and community—empowering the next generation to show up boldly, break boundaries, and define their own style codes,” Under Armour shared in a press release.
The new UA Echo sneaker, designed in a striking pink and green colorway, is now available online for $150—a clear nod to the heritage of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
This campaign continues Under Armour’s connection to local education institutions. Last fall, the brand also gave back to Baltimore City College and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by donating to their athletic programs and creating custom school merchandise.
With “Sisterhood in Style,” Under Armour isn’t just releasing a sneaker—it’s recognizing the beauty, strength, and cultural impact of Black women at HBCUs. And that’s a story worth walking in.
#HBCUOriginal #SisterhoodInStyle #BowieState #MorganState #UnderArmour #BlackExcellence #GreekLife
June 10, 2025 | Eugene, Oregon
Florida A&M’s standout middle-distance runner, Kirk Dawkins, is headed to the big stage as he prepares to compete in the 800-meter semifinals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this Wednesday. The race will take place at 8:58 p.m. EST at the legendary Hayward Field, located on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Catch the action live on ESPN.
Dawkins earned his spot at nationals by running a personal-best time of 1:46.62 at the NCAA East Regional quarterfinals—an impressive mark that solidifies his status among the elite in collegiate track.
This season has been a breakout year for the FAMU junior. He claimed the SWAC Outdoor Championship title in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.2 and followed that up with a strong 1:48.01 showing at the East Coast Relays. His steady improvement and commitment to excellence are paying off as he heads into the national spotlight.
All eyes will be on Dawkins Wednesday night as he looks to continue his historic season and represent Florida A&M on the national stage.
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